Dianthus Plant Named &#39;KLEDG17296&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  Dianthus  plant designated ‘KLEDG17296’ particularly distinguished by light-pink semi-double flowers and an upright habit, is disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/603,490, filed on May 31, 2017, the entire contentsof which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

A Community Plant Variety Rights application was filed for ‘KLEDG17296’on Jul. 4, 2016, File No. 2016/1677.

Genus and species: Dianthus cultivars.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEDG17296’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT ‘KLEDG17296’

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Dianthus,botanically known as Dianthus cultivars, and hereinafter referred to bythe variety name ‘KLEDG17296’. ‘KLEDG17296’ originated from a wholeplant mutation from the Dianthus parent ‘KLEDG12163’ (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 24,707) in The Netherlands in 2015.

In August 2015, ‘KLEDG17296’ was first vegetatively propagated byvegetative stem cuttings. ‘KLEDG17296’ was found to reproduce true totype in successive generations of asexual propagation in Stuttgart,Germany via vegetative stem cuttings.

SUMMARY OF ‘KLEDG17296’

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of ‘KLEDG17296’ when grown under normal horticulturalpractices in Stuttgart, Germany.

-   -   1. Light-pink semi-double flowers; and    -   2. An upright habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Dianthus plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph ofa plant approximately 8-months old and grown in a greenhouse inStuttgart, Germany. The photograph shows the whole plant, including theflowers and foliage and buds and were taken in May 2016 in Stuttgart,Germany. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained byconventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF ‘KLEDG17296’

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘KLEDG17296’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inStuttgart, Germany. Data was collected in April 2017 on 7-month oldplants grown in a plastic greenhouse. Color references are to The R.H.S.Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.),5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Caryophyllaceae.        -   Botanical.—Dianthus sp. or cultivars.        -   Common.—Pot carnation.        -   Designation.—‘KLEDG17296’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Mutation parent.—‘KLEDG12163’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,707).-   Plant:    -   -   Plant form.—Upright, potted plant.        -   Plant height.—14.0 cm to 16.0 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—16.0 cm to 18.0 cm.        -   Propagation type.—Vegetative stem cuttings.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—14 to 16 days.        -   Rooting habit (shape).—Lanceolate.-   Lateral branches:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 13.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.2 cm to 0.4 cm.        -   Internode length.—2.0 cm to 3.0 cm.        -   Number of internodes per branch/stem.—5 to 7.        -   Node length.—0.1 cm to 0.3 cm.        -   Node diameter.—0.2 cm to 0.3 cm.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—RHS 145B (Yellow-green).        -   Branch/stem appearance.—Solid.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Length.—4.0 cm to 6.0 cm.        -   Width.—0.3 cm to 0.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth.        -   Immature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS 138A (Green). Lower            surface: RHS 138A (Green).        -   Mature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS N137A (Green). Lower            surface: RHS N137A (Green).        -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.        -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS N137A (Green). Lower            surface: RHS N137A (Green).-   Flowers:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Round, semi-double, numerous small            sprays.        -   Fragrance.—Present.        -   Natural flowering season.—Spring to fall.        -   Position of flowers relative to the foliage.—Moderately            above.        -   Number of flowers per spray.—4 to 6.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—14 to 18 days.        -   Buds.—Length: 1.0 cm to 1.5 cm. Diameter: 0.4 cm to 0.6 cm.            Shape: Elliptic. Color: RHS 138A (Green) and RHS 144A            (Yellow-green). Extrusion of the styles at the bud stage:            Absent.        -   Corolla.—Quantity of petals per flower: 8 to 10. Corolla            height: 1.0 cm to 1.5 cm. Petal length: 2.0 cm to 2.5 cm.            Petal width: 1.0 cm to 1.3 cm. Petal shape: Spoon-shaped.            Petal apex: Obtuse. Petal base: Acute. Petal margin:            Crenate. Depth of petal margin: Medium. Petal texture (both            upper and lower surfaces): Smooth. Petal color: Immature:            Upper surface: RHS N74C (Red-purple). Lower surface: RHS 76A            (Purple). Mature: Upper surface: RHS 75B (Purple). Lower            surface: RHS 76C (Purple).        -   Calyx.—Quantity of sepals per flower: Composed of 5 sepals.            Shape: Campanulate. Calyx height: 0.8 cm to 1.2 cm. Calyx            diameter (at the apex): 0.4 cm to 0.6 cm. Sepal texture            (both upper and lower surfaces): Smooth. Sepal color: Upper            surface: RHS 137A (Green). Lower surface: RHS 137D (Green).-   Peduncles:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 13.0 cm from the soil to bud; 1.0 cm            to 1.2 cm from the first nodium to the bud.        -   Diameter.—0.1 cm to 0.2 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—RHS 137A (Green).-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Quantity per flower: Moderate. Filament length: 0.8            cm to 1.0 cm. Filament color: RHS 157B (Green-white). Anther            length: 0.1 cm. Anther diameter: 0.05 cm. Anther color: RHS            N155B (White). Pollen amount: Absent.        -   Pistils.—Not observed.-   Fruit and seed set: Seed is sometimes observed, but no information    on the seed is available.-   Disease and pest/insect resistance: No disease and pest/insect    resistance observed.

COMPARISON OF ‘KLEDG17296’ WITH PARENTAL LINE AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEDG17296’ is distinguished from the mutation parent as described inTable 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Line Mutation Parent Characteristic‘KLEDG17296’ ‘KLEDG12163’ Flower color Light-pink Pink with purple eyes

‘KLEDG17296’ can be compared to the commercial Dianthus variety‘KLEDG12163’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,707). Differences between thevarieties are described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘KLEDG17296’‘KLEDG12163’ Flower color Light-pink Pink with purple eyes

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Dianthus plants designated‘KLEDG17296’ as illustrated and described herein.